It's been a little over two years since siblings Barry and Jackson Van Dyke and Heather Van Dyke-Titus decided to remake the dilapidated former Jack's Liquor store into an inviting neighborhood brewpub,
Harmony Brewing. But the pub swung wide its doors at 1551 Lake Drive SE on Feb. 1 with five microbrews on tap.
When the Van Dykes began their hiring blitz in December, they estimated filling one full-time and 25 part-time positions. At the last headcount, they ended up with one full-time general manager and 30 part-time servers, bartenders, bar backs, hosts and dishwashers, says Van Dyke-Titus.
"It wasn't intentional, but I would say 90 percent of our employees are from a two-block radius of the brewery," she adds. "At least half of them are professional musicians who are already out there in the community. We hired people who are very experienced in the hospitality field."
Barry and Jackson have been home brewers for over 10 years and decided to bring their craft to the public. While the siblings are still figuring out what their mainstay beer offerings will be, they opened with five taps, including Crossroads, a rye pale ale; Fiddle Stix, an India pale ale; and Star Stuff, a Belgian ale. Van Dyke-Titus says they're also offering an entry level option for patrons just beginning to explore craft beers, the Golden Lion Tamarin, which is a mild beer with just four percent alcohol.
"We opened with five taps of our own beer, but sold out down to two taps," says Van Dyke-Titus, "so now we have guest taps open until we get more brewed. We're also brewing some beers for Valentine's Day -- a cranberry wheat beer called Oh Be Joyful, and a chocolate honey porter called the AphrodisiAle, which is definitely a brew for Valentine's Day!"
The pub is open 12/7, from noon to midnight, and serves woodfired pizza, ice cream and draft root beer.
Source: Heather Van Dyke-Titus, Harmony Brewing
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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